After somehow being left off the All-Big East First Team, St. John’s senior wing Sir’Dominic Pointer brought home some major hardware on Monday.
Pointer shared the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year award with Providence guard Kris Dunn and also won the BIG EAST Most Improved Player award.
“I can’t imagine there’s anybody in our league, let alone the country, who influences the game at both ends of the floor and in such dramatic fashion,” Johnnies head coach Steve Lavin recently said of Pointer. “I know in my career, I’ve never had a player, there’s no one. Not even close. Baron Davis was an exceptional talent. Trevor Ariza was, some really good players, but his ability to influence the game on both ends of the floor in such dramatic fashion is really unusual.”
Villanova’s Josh Hart has won the BIG EAST Sixth Man award. Alex Barlow of Butler has been named the winner of the BIG EAST Sportsmanship award.
The 6-6 Pointer is an all-around contributor who is a lock-down defender. He ranks third in the league in steals with a 2.0 average and is third in the BIG EAST in blocked shots with a 2.5 average. Pointer is averaging 7.6 rebounds, which ranks fourth in the BIG EAST. St. John’s is also 21-10 overall and 10-8 in the conference. Dunn and Pointer meet in the BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. when No. 4 seed Providence plays No. 5 seed St. John’s.
Pointer has additional credentials that make him deserving of the Most Improved Player award. He increased his scoring average from 5.9 last year to 13.7 this season. His rebound average bumped up from 3.2 to 7.6. Last year, his field goal percentage was .438. This year it is .526, fifth in the BIG EAST.
Dunn, a 6-3 sophomore, helped the Friars to a 21-10 overall record and an 11-7 BIG EAST mark. He is the first player in league history to lead the league in steals and assists in BIG EAST play in the same season. His steals average is 2.8 in league competition and in all games. His steals average ranks fourth nationally. Dunn is also averaging 5.6 rebounds per game.
Hart has been a key contributor to Villanova’s outstanding season. The Wildcats are 29-2 overall, 16-2 in the BIG EAST and the No. 1 seed in this week’s BIG EAST Tournament. A 6-5 sophomore, Hart is averaging 9.7 points, while playing 25.4 minutes per game. He ranks second in the BIG EAST in 3-point shooting, making 44.2 percent. He is ninth in field goal shooting, connecting at a 48.5 percent clip.
Barlow has been the floor leader for a Butler team that has compiled a 22-9 overall record and a 12-6 BIG EAST mark. Originally a walk-on, Barlow has had his perseverance and clean play help define his career. A 5-11 senior, he won the BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete award for men’s basketball last season. This season, on the court he is averaging 8.8 points. He is a finalist for the 2014-15 Senior CLASS Award.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Kris Dunn, Providence
Sir’Dominic Pointer, St. John’s
BIG EAST Most Improved Player
Sir’Dominic Pointer, St. John’s
BIG EAST Sixth Man Award
Josh Hart, Villanova
BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award
Alex Barlow, Butler
Photo: USA Today Sports
